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What makes EMDR Therapy at Worcester special?

Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy is an evidence-based psychotherapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), psychological trauma and other mental health conditions. At Worcester our unique, ground-breaking course has been developed by world renowned expert in EMDR Therapy, president of Trauma Aid Europe and past president of EMDR UK & Ireland, Dr Derek Farrell MBE. It has been designed to enable mental health practitioners and professionals to further develop their understanding of psychological trauma and EMDR.

The PGCert EMDR therapy is the only postgraduate qualification in this empirically supported psychological treatment for trauma that is targeted towards licensed mental health professionals. At Worcester we have international expertise in teaching and learning, research and development in this field of EMDR therapy.

Studying a postgraduate course in the School of Psychology, you will join a friendly, community of learners who enjoy a high-quality teaching and learning experience - the University of Worcester is ranked 6th out of 68 institutions for postgraduate study (Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey, Advance HE). 

Here at Worcester, we've designed the PG Cert EMDR curriculum around your busy lifestyle and clinical practice. We will support you in developing the skills that will enable you to understand and use EMDR through reflective teaching and practice. 

Overview

Overview

Key features

  • Validated by EMDR Europe and contains full EMDR Europe Training
  • Students will develop key skills, knowledge and clinical application in EMDR therapy underpinned by integration between theory and practice, supported by evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence

  • Learning and teaching based on real world examples of international humanitarian training and research projects

  • Research inspired teaching based on comprehensive overview of contemporary research evidence

  • Teaching delivered by current clinical practitioners

Register your interest

Enter your details below and we will keep you up to date with useful information about studying at the University of Worcester.


Entry requirements

What qualifications will you need?

Entry requirements

All students undertaking the course must already be licensed mental health professionals, engaged in clinical practice and actively working with psychological trauma populations. The University of Worcester require applicants to have a second-class honours degree in a relevant subject or an equivalent relevant professional qualification in line with the eligibility criteria for EMDR training in the UK (Approved EMDR UK Board 10 July 2020) including:

  • Clinical Psychologists (Registered with HCPC or PSI)
  • Counselling Psychologists (Registered with HCPC or PSI)
  • Trainee Clinical & Counselling Psychologists in final year of training are acceptable with letter of recommendation from their supervisor
  • Psychiatrists (Consultant Psychiatrist, StR / SpR Psychiatry)
  • Registered Mental Health Nurses (Nursing & Midwifery Council [NMC])
  • Accredited Counsellors/ Psychotherapists (BABCP, BACP, UKCP, IACT/IACP/Association of Christian Counsellors (Higher level), National Council of Psychotherapists (Mental Health Practitioners)
  • Arts Therapists registered with HCPC with mental health training
  • Occupational Therapists registered with HCPC with mental health training
  • Educational Psychologists (Registered with HCPC)
  • Forensic Psychologists (Registered with HCPC)
  • Registered Mental Health Social Workers with experience of working clinically in a mental health setting (HCPC)
  • GMC registered General Practitioners who are also accredited counsellors or psychotherapists or working towards a psychotherapy accreditation.

Other information

Mental health professionals from countries outside the UK and Ireland are requested to submit a letter from their national EMDR Association agreeing to them undertaking their training in the UK and that they fulfil the eligibility criteria for their country of origin.

Applicants from countries with no national EMDR Association are scrutinized on a case-by-case basis and need to broadly follow our own eligibility criteria, i.e. a mental health professional accredited/registered with a governing body in their own country.

In either case, external applicants will not be eligible to practice in the UK unless they also meet the UK eligibility criteria above.

If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the Admissions Office on 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk for advice.

"I have attended lots of training since my doctorate, and I can safely say I have never gained so much from a course as this one."

Programme graduate

Course content

What will you study

MPSY4190 EMDR therapy Training

This PGCert EMDR provides a 60-credit academic qualification covering the EMDR Europe accreditation requirements as a comprehensive psychological treatment model.

 

Blended learning will be utilised, including the use of the UW virtual learning environment.

You are taught through a combination of on-campus sessions and self-directed study tasks. The on-campus sessions would be delivered via a supportive learning environment with 4 four- day blocks (2 blocks in semester 1 and 2 blocks in semester 2). Dates would be advertised at least one month prior to registration to allow applicants to plan study alongside working commitments. The on-campus days involve engaging with different learning activities, such as lectures, practical tasks (individual and/or group), discussion and reflection.

In addition, meetings with your allocated personal academic tutor and your research supervisor are scheduled when required.  These can be either on campus or utilise technologies such as MS Teams or Skype.

Teaching and assessment

How will you be taught?

The programme adopts a student-centred approach to teaching and learning that utilises theoretical knowledge and practical skills, building on the student’s strengths, interests and experiences.

The course team set out to develop reflexive practitioners who monitor their own practice, set their own standards, whilst at the same time placing the client/patient at the heart of clinical practice. The approach is cyclical in nature, with theory informing practice and practice informing theory.

Teaching

We place emphasis on enabling students to develop the independent learning capabilities that will equip them with lifelong learning that they can integrate directly into their current clinical practice, in addition, to enhancing their academic understanding and achievement. The PGCert EMDR therapy will provide a mixture of independent study, teaching and academic support. Our personal academic tutoring systems enables the student to critically reflect on their progress in building a clinical skill set, achievements and experiences that will enable them to flourish and be successful.

Students will be taught through a combination of on-campus lectures and self-directed study tasks. As student are currently engaged in clinical practice, weekends are used to minimise the impact on existing clinical provision. The teaching days will involve different learning activities including didactic teaching, discussion forums, problem-based learning, clinical skills and self-experience.

In addition, student’s will have opportunities to meet with their personal academic tutor in accordance with the course handbook.

The programme will utilise face to face delivery with modules being supported with the use of online reading materials. There is an emphasis on self-directed autonomous learning with students applying learning outcomes and content to their own areas of interest or practice which is evidenced through a variety of module assessments. Teaching within the course aims to be engaging for students with formal approaches such as lectures being interspersed with discussion, debates, analysis of cases, and examples from clinical practice. Learning approaches may include the use of Blackboard Collaborate, online discussion forums and flipped classrooms which expect students to complete independent work in preparation for teaching sessions to reinforce learning. Sessions take a variety of formats and are intended to enable the application of learning through discussion and small group activities. Seminars enable the discussion and development of understanding of topics covered in lectures and are focused on developing subject specific skills and applied individual and group project work. Tutorials are a key aspect of the learning strategy with student being encouraged to share their assessment plans with tutors and peers, allowing structured questions and feedback. Tutorials can be face-to-face or utilise technologies such as Skype.

Contact time

Students complete 60 credits across four blocks of four days of teaching throughout two 12-week semesters in one academic year. In each semester, there are two blocks of four days of teaching sessions.

Lectures on the four days of teaching and learning will include self-directed study tasks and practice skills that link with the overall assignment for the module. The module specification will outline the taught, self-experience practicums, and self-directed elements on Blackboard.

Independent self-study

In addition to the blocks of teaching, students are expected to undertake up to 20 hours of personal independent learning per week. Typically, this will involve completing further reading, critical reflections on practice, planning, preparing coursework assignments and reflective logs.  

Independent learning is supported by a range of excellent learning facilities, delivered through the virtual learning environment and extensive electronic library resources. 

Duration

Two semesters

Course dates

Dates for academic year 2023/24

Training Days

  • Induction: 21st September 2023
  • Part A: 21st – 24th September
  • Part B: 9th – 12th November
  • Part C: 4th – 7th January 2024
  • Part D: 21st – 24th March

Teaching & Learning days: 09:15 hrs – 17:00 hrs

Assessment Days:

  • 26th January 2024
  • 14th & 15th June 2024


EMDR Clinical Supervision/ Consultation Days (Virtual)

  • 23rd November 2023
  • 1st February 2024
  • 25th April 2024
  • 6th June 2024

 

Please note that in compliance with the University of Worcester regulations and EMDR Europe’s criteria for accreditation 100% attendance is required.

Timetables

Timetables are normally available one month before registration. Each block will consist of 4 days of teaching from Thursday to Sunday. Dates will be advertised in advance.

Teaching staff

You will be taught by international experts in EMDR therapy that have been accredited by EMDR Europe either as a Trainer or Consultant/ Clinical Supervisor whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the core content of the module.

The course leader Dr Derek Farrell MBE is an accredited EMDR trainer and consultant. This course is delivered by the course leader, supplemented by external specialists (EMDR Europe Consultants) to assist the practicum/self-experience sessions and participate in the wider issue of students’ clinical practice development.

In addition, the module is already accredited by EMDR Europe until 2023. The teaching is also informed by research and development activity, and current clinical engagement by the teaching team, who have either a higher education teaching qualification or are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy. You can learn more about the teaching staff by visiting their staff profiles.

Assessment

The PGCert EMDR therapy provides an opportunity to test understanding, integration in clinical practice, and learning informally through the completion of practice or ‘formative’ assignment, and the presentation of clinical case examples. The module will have summative assessments, graded at M level in accordance with UW Postgraduate established criteria, that will contribute to meaningful professional development of clinical practice.

The programme requires 100% attendance requirement and a pass grade on summative assessments in order to be completed successfully with EMDR Europe accreditation.

You will receive feedback on practice assessments and on formal assessments undertaken by coursework. Feedback will be provided by the Module Leader. Feedback & Feedforward is intended to support learning and theory/practice integration. Student’s will be encouraged to discuss feedback/ feedforward with their Personal Academic Tutor.

We provide students with feedback on formal course work assessment within 20 working days of hand-in.

A typical formal summative assessment pattern, for a student in one year is:

Semester 1:

  • 1 x Case analysis and plan
  • 1 x Record of attendance and engagement in self experience practicum sessions (to be maintained on an ongoing basis)
  • 1 x Record of clinical supervision (to be maintained on an ongoing basis)

Semester 2:

  • 1 x Poster Presentation
  • 1 x Reflective Workbook
  • 1 x Record of attendance and engagement in self experience practicum sessions (to be maintained on an ongoing basis)
  • 1 x Record of clinical supervision (to be maintained on an ongoing basis) 

Programme specification

For comprehensive details on the aims and intended learning outcomes of the course, and the means by which these are achieved through learning, teaching and assessment, please download the latest programme specification document.

"The opportunity to discuss cases with peers as well as learn from others in similar positions is invaluable and one which cannot be duplicated."

Programme graduate

Derek Farrel

Professor Derek Farrell MBE

BPS Chartered Psychologist,
EMDR Europe Accredited Trainer & Consultant
BABCP Accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist  

Careers

Where could it take you?

Although students will already be engaged in clinical practice, undertaking this PG Cert EMDR programme will equip those who wish to develop their expertise in the field of psychological trauma in relation to developing specialist clinical practice and expertise, clinical supervision, research and development.

Developing expertise in EMDR Therapy allows clinicians to progress their careers in a manner that can extremely multi-faceted. EMDR clinicians can progress towards becoming an EMDR Europe Accredited Practitioner, Consultant/ Clinical Supervisor and Trainer. Expertise can also be related to specific speciality where EMDR could be used, enhanced and developed. These include peak performance, pain management, humanitarian activity, children and adolescents, severe and enduring mental illness, physical health care, military, ethnicity and culture, and many more.

 

"As a Psychologist I have gained personally and professionally from taking this course and am applying so much more into my every day work and future plans."

Programme graduate

Costs

How much will it cost?

Course fees

For up-to-date course fee information visit the postgraduate section of our course fees page.

Additional costs

Every course has day-to-day costs for basic books, stationery, printing and photocopying. The amounts vary between courses.

If your course offers a placement opportunity, you may need to pay for an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

How to apply